Using Chirp with a Screen Reader
This article is for blind and vision-impaired amateur radio operators interested in using Chirp VHF/UHF radio channel editing software with a screen reader.
The easiest way is to export the channel memory data from Chirp into an Excel spreadsheet as a CSV file. Screen reader users who have Excel software will prefer this because they can use standard screen reader commands with the Excel editor. Refer to the next section ("Before Using Chirp") before downloading data from the radio. The screen reader speaks each menu item as you go to the Chirp Radio Menu (F10, R), Down Arrow to "Export," Right Arrow to the submenu, and Down Arrow to "CSV File."
This article describes how to use Chirp if you don't have Excel. To use the Chirp editor, it's necessary to learn how to navigate the program using Tab and Arrow keys. It also helps to learn the items in the edit menus, because they are not spoken until you make a selection. For example, the Tone Menu is "No Tone, Tone, TSQL, DTCS." The Power Menu is "High, Low." The Duplex Menu is "None, Plus, Minus."
Chirp is reviewed in a separate article.
Before Using Chirp
To configure Chirp to communicate with a radio, select the COM port, radio manufacturer, and the model from pull-down menus in the Radio dialog box. Sighted assistance for this one-time process is a good idea, because this is not a standard Windows interface, and the settings menus are not spoken. To open this dialog, choose "Download from Radio" in the Radio Menu (Alt + D).
When Chirp is configured, ALT + D followed by Enter will download the channel memory data from the radio. The screen reader will say "Chirp" when the transfer is complete.
To make Chirp easier to read, select the "Hide Inactive Data" option in the View Menu ("F10, V, Down Arrow, Enter" toggles on and off).
The Chirp Program Window
The Figure shows the program window. Five menus are listed in the top bar: File, Edit, View, Radio, and Help. The bar below this shows a tab with the radio make and model. This tab is an important landmark that I will call "Home." The focus starts here when Chirp is launched, and the focus returns here during editing. We do not need the toolbar below this. The next line lists the column headings, which are the settings stored for each channel. From left to right:
1. Loc (Channel number).
2. Name (Optional).
3. Frequency (example 146.52000).
4. Tone Mode (example Tone).
5. Tone (example 103.5).
6. DTCS Code (example 023).
7. DTCS Polarization (example, NN).
8. Duplex (example +).
9. Offset (example 0.60).
10. Mode (example FM).
11. Power (example High).
The rows under the Headings each hold the data for one channel.
Example 1. Change Frequency of Channel 3
Explanations are in the section following Example 2.
1. With focus at Home, Tab 7 times and Down Arrow 4 times. JAWS reads Row 3.
2. Right Arrow twice to the Frequency column and press Enter. A data entry field appears.
3. Type 146.44 and press Enter. The focus remains on Frequency.
Example 2. Turn Off CTCSS In Channel 3
1. With focus at Home, Tab 7 times and Down Arrow once. JAWS reads Row 3.
2. Right Arrow three times to the Tone Mode column and press Enter. A pull-down menu opens with the focus on "Tone."
3. Up Arrow once and press Enter. The selection changes from "Tone" to "No Tone," and the Tone frequency in the next column disappears. The focus shifts away from the data. Tab once to send it to Home.
Editing Channels With Windows Commands
1. When a channel row is highlighted, JAWS reads all the entries. To read a row at any time, Down Arrow and then Up Arrow.
2. Name, Frequency, and Offset are entered by typing. JAWS speaks the keystrokes. Here are the formats:
a) Name: Up to 6 alphanumeric characters (Default = Blank field).
b) Frequency example 146.52.
c) Offset example 0.6 (Default = 0).
3. Select the other column entries from menus. Navigate in the menu with Up and Down Arrows. Menu items are not spoken while you are making a selection, so it helps to know the contents of the menus, and it may take some trial and error. After selection, JAWS can read the channel data at any time (Down Arrow, Up Arrow). For a new channel the focus starts at the default value listed below.
Here are the items in the order they are listed in each pull-down menu:
a. Tone Mode: None, Tone, TSQL, DTCS (Default = None).
b. Tone: 50 options (Default = 88.5).
c. DTCS Code: 105 options (Default = 023).
d. DTCS Polarization: NN, NR, RR, RN (Default = NN).
e. Duplex: None, Minus, Plus (Default = None).
f. Mode: FM, NFM (Default = FM).
Radios with digital voice add DV.
g. Power: High, Low (Default = High).
4. When Chirp starts, the focus is at Home.
5. Tab once to return the focus to Home after using a Chirp menu or hotkey (for example, after downloading a file with ALT + D). Similarly, Tab once to return focus to Home after editing data.
6. To go to channel data from Home, Tab 7 times and then:
a. Down Arrow one time to return to the last edited channel, or
b. When starting a new session, Down Arrow 2 times to highlight
Channel 1.
7. Move among channels with Up and Down Arrows.
8. Move among columns with Left and Right Arrows.
9. To type entries: Press Enter, type the data, and Enter. The focus stays on the new entry.
10. To select a setting from a menu: Press Enter and select the item using the Up/Down Arrow and Enter. Tab once to bring focus to Home. Then, Tab 7 times and Down Arrow once to return to the channel you are editing. The focus is still on the edited item.
Example 3. Program Channel 2 for Duplex
Assume the channel settings when you start are No Tone Mode, No Duplex, Low Power. The new channel settings will be Frequency = 146.78, Tone = 103.5, Offset = -0.60, High Power:
First Download the File
1. Alt + D, Enter. The file downloads from the radio. JAWS says
"Chirp" when complete.
Next Type The Frequency
2. TAB 8 times and Down Arrow 3 times. This highlights Row 2. JAWS
reads the data.
3. Right Arrow 2 times, Enter. Opens the Frequency box.
4. Type 146.78, Enter.
Next Change To Tone Mode From No Tone Mode
5. Right Arrow, Enter. Opens Tone Mode Menu at No Tone.
6. Down Arrow, Enter. Selects Tone Mode. Focus moves out of data.
Next Change The Tone
7. Tab 8 times and Down Arrow. Highlights Row 2 and reads data.
8. Right Arrow, Enter. Opens Tone Menu at default 88.5.
9. Down Arrow 5 times, Enter. Selects 103.5. Focus moves out of data.
Next Change From Simplex To Duplex
10. Tab 8 times and Down Arrow. Highlights Row 2 and reads data.
11. Right Arrow 3 times, Enter. Opens Duplex Menu.
12. Down Arrow, Enter. Selects minus. Focus moves out of data.
Next Type The Offset
13. Tab 8 times and Down Arrow. Highlights Row 2 and reads data.
14. Right Arrow, Enter. Opens Offset Box.
15. Type 0.60, Enter.
Next Change Power From Low To High
16. Right Arrow 2 times, Enter. Opens Power Menu. Focus at Low.
17. Up Arrow, Enter. Selects High Power. Focus moves out of data.
Last, Read Data To Check Your Work, and Upload The File
18. Tab 8 times and Down Arrow. Highlights Row 2. JAWS reads data.
19. ALT + U, Enter. Uploads to Radio. JAWS says "Chirp" at end.
The sequence "Tab 8 times and Down Arrow" occurs five times in Exercise 3. If you do much channel editing, consider using a simple, one-line macro or a VBScript to automate this step. Macros require a third-party program. VBScripts run on Windows computers without adding another application.
Summary
Chirp can edit the channels of VHF/UHF radios from multiple manufacturers. You can use a screen reader with Chirp in two different ways: (1) Chirp can export a CSV file to an Excel spreadsheet for use with a screen reader. (2) You can navigate in Chirp with Tab and arrow keys. It also helps to learn the order of items in the data edit menus (listed above) because they are not spoken until you make a selection.
Author Information
Peter DeNeef, AE7PD, is an Extra Class amateur radio operator in the U.S. This web site has no ads or conflicts of interest.
Email: HamRadioAndVision "at" Gmail "dot" com
rev. 11/26/2011
Related Article: Chirp Channel Editing Program